Meet the Team

Dana Unger, M.Ed, Founder of Made ManifesT

Dana Maynard Unger, M.Ed., is the founder of Made Manifest LLC and a leader in helping both schools and small businesses adopt technology in ways that are practical, inclusive, and rooted in real‑world needs. With more than twenty years of experience supporting educators, administrators, entrepreneurs, and multilingual communities, Dana specializes in making modern tools understandable, accessible, and genuinely useful.

She holds an M.A. in Instructional Technology and Media in Education and an Ed.M. in Special Education with an emphasis in assistive technology from Teachers College, Columbia University, along with a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her background in instructional design, accessibility, and communication informs every program she builds.

Dana is known for her humor, flexibility, and ability to connect with learners across roles and industries. She believes that authentic relationships and trust form the foundation for meaningful growth. Her work includes AI literacy training for schools and businesses, workflow development for entrepreneurs, live translation tools for multilingual engagement, differentiated instruction, and inclusive communication strategies.

As a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) at the federal, New York State, and New York City levels, Dana leads a team that collaborates with districts, community organizations, and small business owners. Whether supporting educators in designing equitable learning experiences or helping entrepreneurs create AI‑powered systems that simplify their day‑to‑day work, Dana is committed to equity, clarity, and practical solutions that empower people to do their best work.

Ben Sadoff, MSW

Ben Sadoff (he/him) is a social worker and educator with over 10 years' experience designing, managing, and facilitating multi-generational school and community-based educational programming.

He specializes in Live Translation & Digital Tools programming and workshops for Made Manifest.

Julie Termini

Julie Termini brings over 20 years of experience with elementary and middle schools in a variety of capacities - from classroom teaching and mentoring to coaching, developing mentors, training teacher leaders, professional development, and consulting.

She has worked to develop staff and professional development programs at both the school and district levels. Julie’s passion for literacy, effective technology integration and a hands-on, engaging approach to learning has unlocked her interest in blended learning and STEAM education.

It is a combination of these skills that has enabled Julie to support teachers using a variety of instructional approaches to help all students achieve.

Dr.Marnee Firestone, Psy. D.

Dr. Marnee Firestone, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice with over 25 years of experience supporting children, teens, and families. Grounded in the Bio-Psycho-Social Model, she has developed specialized approaches to managing childhood and adolescent challenges, which she has taught to parents for more than two decades. Dr. Firestone has published several articles, been featured in national print and online media, and served as a guest lecturer at schools and universities. She has also appeared on multiple parenting podcasts, fireside chats, and webinars. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, two Master’s degrees—one in Developmental Psychology and one in School Psychology—and an APA-accredited Dual Doctorate in School and Clinical Child Psychology with a specialization in Neuropsychology.

Tamar Oppenheimer, LCSW

Tamar Oppenheimer, LCSW, has worked with thousands of children, teens, and parents in the country’s 5th largest school system. A licensed clinical social worker, she is trained in a wide range of theoretical approaches—including psychoanalytic theory, DBT, CBT, family systems, trauma, and grief—and has applied this expertise across diverse settings for more than 25 years. She holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in clinical social work and is licensed in New York and Florida. Tamar has published on mental health topics, contributed to social policy supporting student well-being, and is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor, training school staff to recognize and respond to mental health challenges in young people. She currently serves as a mental health coordinator for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, providing assessments, support, resources, and education to students and families, in addition to maintaining a private practice.

Dr. jasmine byrd

Jasmine Byrd, EdD, is an educator and consultant with over 10 years of experience supporting learners from pre-kindergarten through adulthood, primarily within multilingual education, special education, and youth leadership spaces. Her work has spanned New York City’s boroughs and includes statewide advocacy through NYS TESOL and Educators for Excellence (E4E). She focuses on building individual and collective capacity for leadership and advocacy, while designing learning experiences that cultivate critical thinking, agency, and practical pathways for change.

She holds an EdD in Education Policy & Leadership from American University, an MA in TESOL from Hunter College, and a BA in Spanish and Studio Art from Georgetown University. Her training grounds her work in systems thinking, leadership, design thinking, UDL, and liberatory, equity-centered frameworks. At Made Manifest, Jasmine supports educators and leaders in translating values into actionable, strategic, and transformative practice.

Terence Joseph

Growing up on Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, Terence's mother engrained in him a desire to serve others. She was a veteran Nurse Administrator from Trinidad & Tobago who founded a successful GED program for pregnant teens in the northern section of the Bronx. Due to his mother’s example, Terence recognized and answered the call to serve others through education. Since high school he has educated with students whose stories are similar to the immigrant families of his Bronx neighborhood. He began teaching professionally as an English teacher for 8 years serving school communities in the South Bronx. During that time he also mentored new teachers as they journeyed to connect with and guide the young black and brown students in their classes. Following teaching, he became an Assistant Principal for 3 years and then Principal for 10 years of a high school in East Harlem. There he sharpened his abilities to lead with compassion, trust, and urgency; creating fertile ground for innovation and achievement for both the students and the adults that educated them. He developed systems for empowering leadership teams, building communities of learners, and helping new teachers and students become leaders in their communities. In his new role as Founder and Head School Leadership Coach for PrinciplEd Development LLC, Terence continues to answer his calling to serve as an educator, while helping new and veteran school leaders create systems to sustain their energy, joy and student success.

Mary-Ann Mastreani, LPC

With over 30 years of experience in Yoga, Meditation, and Mindfulness, Mary-Ann Mastreani brings a deeply compassionate and practical approach to wellness.

Holding a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with specializations in Somatic Therapies and Expressive Arts, she is also a certified Integrative Life Coach through Coaching for Transformation.

Mary-Ann has guided hundreds of individuals through the challenges of burnout, stress, and major life transitions—particularly in high-demand professions like education. Her approach is grounded, accessible, and designed to meet participants exactly where they are.

Abigail helfat, M.Ed

Abigail Helfat, M. Ed. is a Reading Specialist and Special Educator with over 20 years of experience.  Abigail earned a Master’s Degree in Language and Literacy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach. 

She taught at the Carroll School in Massachusetts and the Churchill School in NYC, both specialized settings for students with learning disabilities. In addition, Abigail has been working with teachers as an adjunct instructor in the Literacy Program at Hunter College for the past 15 years.  She is an advocate for best practices in literacy instruction and dedicated to supporting teachers so they can learn research and methods to meet the needs of all students.

Rich Bertrand

Rich Bertrand, a Georgetown University and SUNY New Paltz graduate, teaches English in the Clarkstown Central School District. As a tech liaison and District-Wide AI & Technology Committee member, he integrates technology to enhance student engagement, fostering dynamic learning spaces that bridge the humanities and STEM. His curriculum empowers students to become “Future Ready,” recognizing that large language models emerge from the alchemy of language arts, mathematics, and the sciences.

Bertrand’s coursework evolves in step with student needs, granting learners greater agency through Design Thinking, UDL principles, and multimodal expression. Using IDEO’s EDIPT (Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test) framework, students approach texts as designers—viewing authors as engineers of meaning, problem-solvers who craft language with purpose. He continues to explore new approaches to modernize the writing workshop, blending human and AI-driven feedback in ways that preserve critical thinking, elevate reflection, and place ethical decision-making at the heart of curriculum design.

Jenny Mirmelstein

Jenny Mirmelstein is a seasoned communications leader with more than 25 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and strategic communications. Over the past decade, she has focused her work in the education space, leading school communications efforts with a deep understanding of how strategic messaging and community engagement support student and district success.

Throughout her career, Jenny has worked across a wide range of industries, from consumer products to business technology, bringing a versatile, results-driven approach to every role. Her background gives her a unique lens through which to approach school communications, blending private-sector innovation with a public-sector mission.

As a trusted advisor to superintendents, leadership teams, and school staff, Jenny oversees a broad portfolio that includes crisis communication, media relations, social media strategy, website development, marketing campaigns, and community-building initiatives. A skilled collaborator and forward thinker, she brings clarity, creativity, and strategic insight to every project, helping schools strengthen their relationships with families and the wider community.

Ian Smith

Ian Smith is an experienced educator and professional development consultant with a strong background in instructional technology, AI integration, and student engagement. He currently teaches in the Somers Central School District, where he leads in-service trainings on artificial intelligence and serves on the district’s AI Committee.

Formerly with Mount Vernon CSD, Ian taught a wide range of courses, led EdTech initiatives during remote learning, and established the district’s first Esports program. He also designs and facilitates professional development workshops through Made Manifest, including a featured presentation at the international 2023 Microsoft Education Empowerment Summit.

Audrey gordon

With over a decade of classroom teaching experience, Audrey has a strong foundation in maximizing student engagement and a deep understanding of the everyday needs of educators. In recent years, she has shifted into a staff developer role, where she trains teachers and school staff on effectively integrating instructional technology software. Her hands-on approach and classroom background allow her to support educators in practical, meaningful ways as they incorporate digital tools into their teaching. 

It is always Audrey’s goal to provide meaningful, relatable, and straightforward training that allows participants to feel confident about using what they’ve learned independently (and knowing that Audrey is only an email away if they need some follow-up support). Audrey is passionate about making technology feel less overwhelming and more empowering for teachers.

Ashley Shanley

Ashley Shanley is an Instructional Tech Coach in Rahway Public Schools in NJ. With over a decade of experience in education, she began as a Kindergarten teacher and later held roles as a K-8 computer/technology educator.

She loves to share her knowledge and passion for Google as a Google Certified Trainer, Coach, and Innovator. Ashley is a proud graduate of Rutgers University with a BA in Psychology/Education and earned her MA in EdTech from NJCU.

Douglas Marolla

Doug Marolla began his career in education in 1996, working in the South Bronx with high schoolers. 

He learned to incorporate the many new technological tools that arose during the young days of the internet and the proliferation of school based educational software.  

Mr. Marolla's multi layered background of tech support (hardware), Instructional Technology (software), and nearly 30 years as a classroom teacher provide for a diverse and robust level of expertise in today's rapidly changing and technologically challenging classroom. 

His latest project - implementing AI and other dynamic programs to foster student learning - is probably the most exciting one to date.

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